Heat exchange apparatus



Jan. 11, 1949. J. PfR'ATi-IBUN 2,459,095

7 HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS.

Filed April 13, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR JOHN F. RATHBUN ATTORNEY Jan. 11, 1949.

Filed April 1 5, 1944 J. P. RATHBUN 2,459,095

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 29 H F: a 4

33 INVENTOR JOHN F. RATHBUN. v

i @MM' ATTORN Ei' Patented Jan. 11, 1949 HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS John P. Bathbun, Prospect Park, Pa... asslgnor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation. East Pittabnrgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,821

2 Claims. (Cl. 257-32) This invention relates to heat exchange apparatus, more particularly to partition structure therein, and has for an object the provision of improved sealing means between such partition structure and the shell of the heat exchange apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in heat exchange apparatus of the vertical type, means for liquid sealing vertical joints therein.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in heat exchange apparatus of the vertical type, vertical partition structure segregating a portion of the space within the shell from the remaining portion thereof, together with novel sealing means at the vertical edges of the partition structure where they abut or closely approach the shell structure.v

A further object of the invention is to provide, in heat exchange apparatus of the vertical type, vertical partition structure having channelshaped vertical edges disposed in contiguous relation to the shell side wall, together with means for maintaining the spaces between the legs of the channel-shaped edges flooded with condensate to prevent leakage of steam or other gases to the segregated space from the remaining space.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection-with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line I-I of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line' III-III of Fig. 1, looking, in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the bifurcated sealing members illustrated generally in Figs. 3 andwi, with the flexible sealing members 35 omitted for the sake of clearness; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the sealing structure shown generally at the upper left of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, there is shown a heat exchanger, indicated in its entirety by the reference character Ill, comprising a vertically-disposed shell H having a steam inlet l2 and a condensate outlet l3. A plurality of U-tubes I4 extend longitudinally of the shell and have their terminal portions supported by the tube plate II. This tube plate constltutes a portion of the water box structure l6 which is divided by partitions l1 and i8 into an inlet chamber l9, a reversing chamber 20 and a discharge chamber 2|,- this water box construction providing for flow of water through the tubes in four passes. The inlet and discharge chambers l3 and 2| are-provided with the usual supply and discharge connections 22 and 23, respectively.

In order to provide a subcooling section 25, the space surrounding the tubes of the first water pass 'is segregated from the remaining space within the -shell H by a vertical partition structure 28, comprising radially-extending portions 21 and 28 Joined by a cross-corner portion 29. 1

In order that the tube bundle may be removable as a unit, it is necessary that the partition structure 26 likewise be removable with the tube bundle, this necessitating a removable seal between the outer edges of the radially-extending partition sections 21 and 28 and the shell II. This novel sealing means, constituting the subject matter of the present invention, is indicated in its entirety by the reference character 30 and comprises a U-shaped member having a base portion 3| carrying a pair of legs .32 and 33, terminating in close proximity to the shell II, as at 34.

Preferably, each of these legs has secured at its inner surface a plurality of flexible laminations of the type more fully disclosed, in

- United States Letters Patent Nos. 1,803,034 and 1,803,035, granted to Westinghouse Eelectric & Manufacturing Company on April 28, 1931. Inasmuch as this specific type of seal is well-known in the trade, being sold under the name Lamiflex, further description thereof in the present case is believed unnecessary. .However, it may be pointed out that these flexible laminations 35 may be secured to the legs 32 and 33 in any suitable manner, as by spot-welding and/or the use of the plates 36 and 3l-together with the welding 33, illustrated in Fig. 4. The, base portion 31 of the U-member is preferably secured to the outer edges of the radially-extendingpartition sections 21 and 28 by welding, at 40.

A horizontal partition 42 is disposed between the radially extending vertical partition sections 21 and 23 .and the shell wall which cooperates therewith, to form a top closure for the subcooling section 25. While in the construction herein illustrated, this subcooling section 25 extends I 3 substantially the full length of the first water pass, it will be apparent that the same may be of any lesser length or extent, with the vertical partition structure 26 being correspondingly shorter. The horizontal partition 42 is preferably welded, or otherwise secured to the vertical partition structure 26 and is sealed with respect to the adjacent portion of the shell H by an angular packing member 43 andclampingring 44 (Fig. 6). F y Y As indicated in Fig. 1, the horizontal partition 42 is disposed a short distance below the upper edge of the vertical bailie structure 26, the upper edge of the latter which projects above the horizontal partition 42 serving as a "dam to retain upon the latter condensate either falling thereon from the tubes thereabove or flashed thereonto through the inlet connection 46 from an external source such as another heat exchanger operating at higher pressures.

The body of condensate collecting upon the horizontal partition .42 serves to water-seal the joints about the partition and the tubes and prevent anypossible "leakage of steam therepast to the subcooiing section 25.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the inner leg of eachU-shaped member (33 in Figs. 3 and 4) is shorter than the other leg and the vertical partition structure 26, with the result that excess condensate deposited upon the horizontal partition 42 flowsover the upper edge of the shorter leg 33 into the space 48 between the two legs 32 and 33. Under operating conditions where condensate is flashed into the shell through the inlet 46 from an'external source, or where the 48-at the outer edges of the vertical baille structure 26 filled, thereby sealing the subcooling section against leakage of steam thereinto from the steam space constituting the. remaining portion of the shell interior.

It is believed that operation-of the heat exchange apparatus as a whole will be obvious to those. skilled in the art; however, it -may be stated that steam, entering the inlet connection i2, passes around the impingement baffle 50 and follows a convoluted or criss-cross path from that point downwardly to the bottom of the shell, flowing back and forth between the successive baflles 5| and 52, which are disposed with opposite edges in spaced relation to the adjacent sections "21 and 28 of the vertical partition structure. In other words, the alternate baflles 5| and 52 are constructed and arranged to provide openings 53 and 54, respectively, at opposite ends thereof for staggered flow of steam from top to bottom of the shell. In order to prevent bypassing of steam through the untubed central portion of the shell,this portion is closed off by partition members 58 and 51, cooperating with the cross-corner portion 29 of the vertical partition structure 26. However, the partition 51 is provided, near the bottom of the shell, with an opening 58 for flow of condensate into the central portion of the shell for flow therefrom through the passage 59 and conduit 60 to the upper portion of the subcooling section 25.

The condensate outlet 13 is-located in the subcooling section adjacent'the bottom thereof, and is provided with a discharge valve 6|, controlled through linkage62 and 63 by the 110M516, condensate level within the heat exchanger, the float will be raised, resulting in opening of the condensate discharge valve 6!, thereby permitting the pressure existing within the heat exchanger to force the condensate from the latter through the passage 58 and conduit 60 into the upper end of the subcooling section 25, at the same time forcing out at the bottom of the subcooling section a corresponding amount of condensate, un-

til the level of condensate in the heat exchanger has fallen suiliciently to move the float into valve-closing position.

F The sub-cooling section 25 is provided with alternating baflles l0 and II having openings 12 and 13 at opposite ends'ior producing maximum flow path conditions in the subcooling section, similar to those in the condensing portion of the apparatus.- i

The upper end of the shell may be provided with the usual vent l8 and the subcooling section 25 likewise provided with anair vent l'l in order that the latter may be maintained flooded with condensate-at all times during normal operation of the apparatus.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not solimited, but is susceptible of. various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a vertical shell having a, steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a removable bundle of tubes disposed vertically in said shell, water box structure associated with the terminal portions of the tubes and providing for circulation of water therethrough, vertical partition structure removable from the shell with the tube bundle and cooperating with the shell to segregate a portion of the space about the tubes from the remaining space within the shell, bifurcated vertcal edges on the partition structure providing vertical channels opening toward the cooperating shell.

resilient sealing members carried by the branches of the bifurcations and frictionally contacting the contiguous shell, a source of condensate comprising upper portions of the tubes which extend through the segregated portion of space and thereabove, and a pan-like structure positioned beneath said source of condensate for reception of-condensate therefrom and discharge of condensate to the vertical channels to maintain them flooded.

2. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a ver tical shell having a steam inlet and a condensate outlet, a removable bundle of tubes disposed vertically in said shell, water box structure asso ciated with the terminal portions of thetubes and providing for circulation of water therethrough, vertical partition structure removable from the shell with the tube bundle and cooperating with the shell to segregate a portion of the space about the tubes from the remaining space within the shell, bifurcated vertical edges on the partition structure providing vertical channels opening toward the cooperating shell. resilient sealing members carried by the branches of the bifurcations and frictionally contacting the contiguous shell, a source of condensate comprising The following references are of record in the REFERENCES CITED file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date Name Chalfant et al. May 8, 1923 Potter Apr. 28, 1931 Bowman Apr. 14, 1942 Bowman et a1. Oct.'20, 1942 Nelson Dec. 29, 1942 

